Cia

I think a lot of it depends on age of your characters and their location. A lot of southern kids call their dad's 'daddy' their whole lives and kids there never use first names alone. My 21 year old brothers still do with their dad. For gay friends I've had, biology has nothing to do with it, if they are both around from birth they are both parents so some depends on when the non-bio dad comes into the picture. If they're both around from day 1 they need more intimate names, Daddy/Dad, Pop/Papa. I grew up in the Pac NW for the most part so a kid using the name of an adult close to them doesn't seem weird to me, which is another way location comes into play. In a story I wrote the 3 year old son of my main character calls his father, Daddy and the 2nd who has been around a year, 'Petey'. A combo of 'Daddy P' or something like that would suffice.

I don't collect things from others really but when my sister was in the Navy she ALWAYS sent me something from where they stopped or she was stationed. If it was just a regular type of the year I got postcards, which I still have. If it was during holidays or close to my birthday I got gifts. A handmade wood inlay musical jewelry box and hand made cameo from Italy, A small handmade tapestry from Paris, some books and figurine from Ireland, Wood carvings from Guam... My daughter got a jewelry box from Italy, a small bone china mini tea set from England. I couldn't see her very often but it was like she was sending pieces of her life and the things she got to see back to me, so I very much understand your collecting postcards.

Welcome Fantasy2309 and h0rnieKittenz! Nice to meet you! I hope you enjoy the site. Feel free to send me any questions you might have.

Wow, thanks so much for the reviews. I'm glad you liked the story!! This was a very short story. I could have made it longer but this was what came to me. However, if you liked this style you would like the sequel, Two of a Kind. Velaku and Natham are not the main characters but well... no spoilers! Check it out (and it's a lot longer)

Yes, I did try to incorporate characteristics of the actual animals into my characters. They are not just human, they are part human and part animal. They have baser instincts they can overcome but sometimes... they still come out. Besides, I love the big protective type! LOL

You got it right, but one step even farther when it comes to Velaku's dad. Things are complicated for the poor guys but they're muddling through. Thanks for the review!!

Awww, thanks!! That is always a huge compliment when the emotions of a story get to a reader so much. I'm glad the story really hooked you in the beginning. When I got the idea for the story that scene just really jumped at me.

Thank you Bandage! I'm glad the emotion and need came through. I don't know if I'll write them again, I hadn't planned on it but the possibility is always there. for the review, thanks so much dear!!

Goodness there is a lot of 'loving' in this chapter. Hormonal teenagers, all of them! I like the bond between Harry and Draco though, it's very sweet.

Awww, this is just the beginning too. Alan is quite a piece of work. Thanks for the review!!

Awww, this is just the beginning too. Alan is quite a piece of work. Thanks for the review!!

Sorry, I hope what you need to have happen, does happen. But as was said before, we'll be here.

Hmm... that has merit. GA's official 'High King' Myr's a big Merlin fan... maybe we can con him into changing CJ's title to Ard Rhi of Cliffhangers?

Ha! Lioness here... Queen of Beasts! I don't listen to any goat. Goats are for dinner!!! CJ just wants to bleat his innocence but no one is gonna believe him.

I don't think we can trust the words of anyone who acts in such a ridiculous fashion. CJ's lastest candid: P.S. Marty... I'm a gal, not a guy dear

Hey Fianna, welcome to GA yourself!! Already fell under the Nephy spell I see

LOL, Michael... welcome again I guess Hi JohnXx. Welcome to GA! Good luck with posting your stories, make sure you read the FAQ's in the Site Help on how to post if you have questions. Also, check out our teen forum. It has various topics posted by our younger members and good tips on staying SAFE online. Again, welcome!!

:funny: :funny: :funny: :funny: I told him I'd get him back for his heinous attempts to transfer his notoriety for cliffies to me. Do you like his pink butterfly tattoos on his shoulder? They're so manly!

CJ's most recent picture as he leads his adoring fans!

The darkness gave way to the light and I found myself just as unable to see. Tears streamed down my face as the white radiance stabbed through my eyes and blasted my brain. I groaned and turned away, stumbling with one hand over my eyes and the other stretched out in front of me. "Help!" My voice was a hoarse croak, barely audible to my own ears. My bare feet slapped down on the rough hard surface, cracks and rocks buried in the sand made me stumble. I waved my arm in front of me, recoilin

Thank you Louis! I really wanted to make a well rounded character. Talbot was different and that is exactly what I wanted to showcase. The 'point of change' is actually when the narrator notices Talbot's physical reaction to him rejecting him at the party. In my mind they were very similar, if at different stages of returning to life, so to speak. I'm not quite sure what Talbot went through but I do think at one time he was a lot like the narrator, recognized it and he wanted to make it better. In return, the narrator couldn't help but sense that and respond in a way he hadn't to anyone else. I'm glad you thought that I was able to close the story adequately. I often wonder if I get enough of an ending to satisfy the reader when I write a short story because so much is left unwritten. I want to let the reader control where they think it goes from there in their own minds but give enough of a feeling of resolution so that it doesn't appear I just left the characters hanging. Your feedback helps so much and you have given me a very thoughtful review. Thank you!! ~Cia

I used to think I was alone. I even thought I wanted it that way. In a sea of people at one of my sister's parties I held myself apart; not willing to risk the contact with the skin of a stranger. I would nod politely with my arms wrapped across my chest to protect me, to keep from flying apart and losing the little breath I could draw in as I tried not to panic. At least until one party when a large body stepped up behind me and sneakily made its way between me and the wall to one side. On

Talbot was an unexpected nudge from life I couldn't ignore.

Well I read a few different ways. If I'm reading for enjoyment it's almost always unconscious reading on my part. By that I mean that I don't usually see the words, I see the image the writer portrays instead. That is why I'm so keen on proper visualizations, I think, because a good story plays like a movie in my head. If it's poorly written or edited I usually can't do that though and the reading is slower and more deliberate. Often when I beta a story I will read it through for visualizations and then read it through for spelling/grammar edits. I focus differently for each type of beta work I do and that's different from how I read for pleasure.

Ha Ha Ha, I got this one too! Not really my style though. I prefer to use